Agenda Item Wording:
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Award contract for fire alarm system replacement - Authorize the City Manager to issue an emergency purchase order to Sebastian in the amount of $67,408.91 to replace the existing inoperable fire alarm system and appropriate $74,000 from the Wastewater Fund.
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Agenda Date: 10/05/2026
Prepared by:
Ben Litwack, Public Works Manager, 559-713-4671, ben.litwack@visalia.gov
Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, 559-713-4052, nick.bartsch@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to issue an emergency purchase order to Sebastian in the amount of $67,408.91 for replacement of the fire alarm system at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) and appropriate $74,000 from the Wastewater Fund (431).
Summary:
During a recent inspection by the Visalia Fire Department, the existing fire alarm control panel was found to be inoperable. The existing system is proprietary, with replacement components and service supplied through Tyco Simplex Grinnell in Fresno. Unfortunately, the replacement of the panel has been delayed due to the difficulty in obtaining a response from the vendor. Due to these ongoing delays and past historic difficulties in obtaining service for this proprietary system, staff determined a more cost effective, and logistically feasible solution would be to replace the system in its entirety.
Background Discussion:
Through the recent Fire Department inspection, the existing fire alarm system at the WRF Administration Building was found to be inoperable. The Fire Department informed the Wastewater staff that, until the fire alarm system operation is restored, the facility is required to maintain a fire watch. The fire watch consists of a dedicated person checking every room in the facility once each hour. While this can be accommodated by WRF staff during normal operating hours, because WRF staff are not on site twenty-four hours a day, an additional contr...
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